体坛英语新闻：After six-year break, Thorpe swims 16th fastest

ROME, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Five-time Olympic champion Ian Thorpe of Australia swam the 16th fastest in the 100m freestyle at the Italian Winter Open meet on Friday in his first long course outing in six years.

Thorpe clocked 50.84 seconds in the event which was won by Italian Luca Dotto in 48.78 seconds at Riccione.

Thorpe, 29, who retired in November 2006 after collecting five Olympic golds and 11 world titles, announced in February this year that he was returning to the pool, hoping to make the 2012 London Olympics.

He returned to action in November and competed in the World Cup short course championships in Singapore, Beijing and Tokyo.

Thorpe trains in Switzerland with Gennadi Touretski, the former coach for Russian Alexander Popov.